FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2024
For more information:
Alison Harrison, Marketing and Communications Director
James Parnell, Scout Executive
LOCAL BOY SCOUT ELECTED TO NATIONAL OFFICE
Virginia Beach, Va. – David Gosik, an 18-year-old from Chesapeake, has been elected as the 2024 National Chief of the Order of the Arrow, the national honor society for the Boy Scouts of America. His peers elected him for a one-year term on December 27, 2023, at the OA’s National Planning Meeting in Boulder, Colorado.
Gosik is a member of Troop 303 (chartered by St. Matthews School in Virginia Beach). He graduated from Grassfield High School and is a first-year student studying history and economics at the University of Virginia. David’s favorite pastimes include working on his car, spending time with friends, and trying new restaurants.
He is a member of OA’s Blue Heron Lodge #349 (Tidewater Council BSA). Before becoming the national chief, David was a lodge chief, chapter chief, conclave vice chief, section vice chief, and section chief for Section E9. He is an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member, and recipient of the Founder’s Award and James E. West Award.
Gosik is the third Scouts BSA Troop 303 Scout to be elected National Chief of the Order of the Arrow. He is also the sixth National Officer Blue Heron Lodge has produced since 2012 and its third National Chief since 2018. David joins the ranks of senior national OA leadership held by Blue Heron Arrowmen Zach Grinvalsky (2023 National Chief), Seth Greiling (2020 Region Chief), Anthony Peluso (2018 National Chief), Taylor Bobrow (2014 National Vice Chief), and Preston Marquis (2012 National Vice Chief).
Gosik and new national vice chief John Andrew Segebarth, an Eagle Scout from the Lincoln Heritage Council and Kawida Lodge in Kentucky, will serve one-year terms as the OA’s top youth leaders with two regional youth chiefs. They will serve lodges across the country, providing them with resources.
The national chief and vice chief will also sit on the national Order of the Arrow committee and represent the youth voice in the volunteer-led group. They’ll also preside over the 2024 National Order of the Arrow Conference at the University of Colorado – Boulder and other national OA events, including National Leadership Seminars.
As the national chief, David is optimistic about the new year. “2024 will support personal connections between Arrowmen,” he said. “With a National Conference, eleven NLS courses including Japan and Puerto Rico, and forty-three section Conclaves, the Order of the Arrow will be a forum in which lifelong friendships are created.”
About the Order of the Arrow
For more than 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition encourages others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth. More information about the Order of the Arrow is available at OA-BSA.org. Follow the Order of the Arrow at facebook.com/oabsa and Instagram.com/oabsa. Additionally, you can follow David and his journey as National Chief at Instagram.com/oanatchief.
About Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America
Tidewater Council is the 5th oldest Boy Scouts of America council in the United States, established in 1911. Today, the council serves more than 4,100 youth and 1,700 adult volunteers in the Virginia cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, and the North Carolina counties of Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank, and Perquimans. Information about Tidewater Council is available by visiting TidewaterBSA.com, emailing james.parnell@scouting.org, or calling 757-497-2688.
About the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the nation’s foremost youth programs of character development and values-based leadership training. Since its inception in 1910, more than 130 million young men and women have participated in the BSA’s youth programs. More than 35 million adult volunteers have helped carry out the BSA’s mission.
BSA programs serve boys and girls ages five through 20, and their families, with age-appropriate curriculums that develop character, citizenship, leadership, and personal fitness.
More information about the Boy Scouts of America is available by visiting scouting.org.
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